Drilling-machine.



Patented May'20, |902.

R. M. DOWNIE.

DRILLING MACHINE.

(Application filed Apr. 24, 1901.

4 Sheets-Sheet l.

(No Model.)

NE Nonms Pneus co. Maremma. ynsumurom n t,

No. 700,078. Patented may 20', |002.

n. M. 00wN|E.

DRILLING MACHINE.

-(Apph'amicm filed Apr. 24, 1901.) y (No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

TNE- nanms Pgvcns co.. PNoYmuTNov. wAsHmoTcN, n. c.

Patented May 20, |9102.

AR. M. nowNE. DRILLING MACHINE.

, [Application led Apr.- 24, 1901,)

4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

(No Model.)

Mnl-eli. IIIIIIEBE I..-

atroz/neg ANu. 700,678. Patented May 20, |902.

n. M. uowNlE.

DRILLING MACHINE.

(Application led Apr.A 24, 1901.)

(N0 M'DdL) 4 Sheets-Sheet 4.

ulunifan'nu "lll ll l me mams PETERS co, monulmo wAsrmnroN. o. c,

UNITED STATES PATENT EEICE.

ROBERT M. DOWNIE, OF BEAVERFALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE KEYSTONE DRILLER COMPANY, OF BEAVERFALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

DRILUNG-MCHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 700,678, dated May 20, 1902.

Application filed April 24:, 1901.

To all/whom, t nung concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. DOWNIE, a citizen of the United States,residing atBeaverfalls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Drilling-Machine, of which the following is a specication.

The present invention relates to machines for use in drilling Artesian and oil wells or for the purpose of extracting metals.

One of the objects of the invention is to greatly simplify and cheapen this class of machines by obviating the necessity of coiled springs, air buers or cushions, and similar expensive devices and provide novel and eficient means for counterbalancin g the weight of the drilling-tools and lessening the consequent shock to the operating mechanism.

Another andimportant object is to simplify the controlling mechanism of the several parts,so that the number of levers are lessenedv and the operation of the machine more readily understood and under better and more immediate control of the operator.

A still further object is to provide means for regulating and adjusting the load to the dierent forms of driving power employed and the diierent kinds of work met with.

Finally, the aim of the invention is to produce an efficient and compact machine of a minimum number of parts which are of a character to withstand the jars and shocks and the rough usage to which machines of this class are ordinarily subjected.

In the following specification there is described the preferred embodiment of the invention, and this embodiment is clearly illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It will be understood, however, that such changes may be made from the construction shown and described as may be within the scope of the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan View of the same, the derrick being removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line X X of Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a detail longitudinal vertical sectional View illustrating the manner of mounting and the means for operating the Walking-beam. Fig. 5 is an Serial No. 57,316- (No model.)

end elevation of the dei-rick. Fig. G is a detail horizontal sectional View through the pivoted end of the walking-beam. Fig. 7 is a detail view illustrating' the construction and 55 mounting of the cable-reel-controlling means. Fig. 8 is a detail section through the operating Ycrank-wheel for the walking-beam.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all the figures of the draw- 6o ings.

The frame of the machine consists ot' suitable base-sills 10, spaced a suitable distance apart and shown as supported on wheels 1l for the purpose of transportation. Directly over the base-sills and at one end are located lon gitudnally-disposed supporting-beams 12, rigidly secured to the studs 13. At the same end of the frame is placed the sectional derrick 14, the sections of which are hinged, as 7o K,

v2, the tumbler-rod 21 of a horse-power may be attached to the shaft, the end of which is squared for that purpose. About this shaft l2 are rgrouped the drill-operating mechan ism, the cable-reel, and the sand-pump reel, from which they receive their power, and the construction and operation of each will be described successively.

The drill-operating mechanism shown is constructed as follows: A walking-beam 22 is pivoted at one end between the side sills 10 of the frame and has its other or free end located below the derrick 14. This beam is 95 constructed of two bars 221, spaceda lslight distance apart, as shown in Figs. 3 and 6, and l the free end of each baris providedfat its upper corner with a bearing 23,that is in the form of a hook havin g a contracted entrance-throat. I oo Slidably mounted upon the derrick is a pushrod 24, having a crown-pulley 25 at its upper lgagement with the gear-wheel 30.

end, at which point it has a sliding connection with the derrick and provided at its lower end with a T-head 26, the ends of which detachably engage in the bearings 23 ofthe walking-beam. This push-rod is a rigid structure, as distinguished from those having an interposed spring designed to absorb the jar of the tools. A stationary seat 27 is located upon the frame adjacent tothe free end ofthe walking-beam and is adapted to receive the lower end of the push-rod when detached from the bearings 23, a suitable handle 28 being located on said rod to move it.

The manner of pivoting the beam is clearly shown in Fig. 4. The bars 22a are provided in their under faces with transverse notches in which fits the transverse pivot 43. A keeperblock 22b is bolted to the under sides of these bars on opposite sides of said pivot and is likewise provided with a transverse notch to receive the same.

For the purpose of operating the walkingbeam a stub-shaft 29 is journaled across a pair of the supporting-beams 12, and to thev inner end thereof is rigidly secured a gearwheel 30, the teeth of which mesh with a pinion 31, mounted on the drivingshaft 1b'. This pinion is feathered to the shaft 16, so as to turn therewith,and has a sliding movement, so that it may be thrown out of and into en- In order to control this sliding movement, the pinion is provided withv a grooved collar 32, in the groove of which the bifurcated end of a controlling-lever 33 engages, said lever being pivoted intermediate its ends to the frame and having its free end exposed in convenient relation to the operator, as shown in Fig. 2. Connecting the gear-wheel 30 and the walking-beam 22 is a pitman 34, that passes ,between the sections 22 of the beam and has a T-head 35, journaledin suitable bearings 36, located on the under side of said sections. The upper end of the pitman is connected to a crank-pin 37, secured to the gear-wheelin the following manner:

As clearly shown in Figs. 4 and 8, an eccentrically-arranged disk 38 is revolubly mounted on the gear-wheel 30 by means of a pivotbolt 39,v and to this disk is secured the crankpin 37, which is so arranged that it may be moved in line with the axis of movement of the gear-wheel 30 or at different distances from the same. In order to hold it at any desired distance,a set-screw 40 passes through the pin and is arranged to be seated in suitable sockets 41 in the adjacent face of the gear-wheel, the outer end of this set-screw having a hand-wheel 42, whereby it may be readily operated. By this means the length of stroke of the Walking-beam'may be regulated.

For the purpose of counterbalancing the weight of the tools and toprovide a check upon the engine when such weight is relieved a novel deviceis provided, which is connected to the walking-beam and operated upon by the same to produce` a torsional strain. The construction of this device is clearly illustrated in Fig. 6. The pivot-shaft 43'is passed transversely through the end of the walking-beam and its ends it in sockets 44, arranged in keeper-blocks 45, which are secured to the opposing faces of the side sills 10. The beam is held against longitudinal movement on the shaft by means of collars 46, arranged on opposite sides of said beam and held in -place by'set-screws 47. The keeper-blocks 45 are furthermore provided with longitudinal openings 48, and the walking-beam likewise has openings 49 arranged upon each side of the pivot-shaft. Through these openings passes a iiexible counterbalancing element, preferably in the form of a wire rope 50, the ends of which are secured to shackles 51, tied together by adjusting-bolts 52, which thus permit the regulating of the tension of the rope. The portions of the rope which pass through the keeperlocks and the walking-beam are preferably protected i by elastic coverings 53, su ch as ordinary hose- -pipe, and washers 54, of compressible material, are placed in the sockets 44 at the ends of the pivot-shaft 43. It will therefore be seen that the opposite portions of the rope areoscillated by the movement of the walking-beam and that their axis of oscillation will be coincident with the pivot-axis of theV beam. i

In operation the drill-cable 55 passes over the crown-pulley 25 and the drill 56 is secured to the end of the same. The moving pinion 31 is placed in mesh with the gearwheel 30, whereby said gear-wheel is rotated, thus imparting an oscillatory movement to the walking-beam through the medium of the pitman 34. The length of the throw of the walking-beam is regulated by the distance at which the crank-pin is placed from the axis of the gear-wheel, and said motion may be stopped altogether. by moving the disk so that the pin will be on a center with said axis. This adjustment is an exceedingly important feature in a machine of this class, especially when using a gasolene-engine or horse-power, the speed of which cannot be regulated without a great deal of trouble and loss of time, in that should the driving power be too slow for a short fall of the drilling-tools 56 the length of the stroke and the consequent fall of the tool can be instantly increased to give additional force to the blows, and vice Versa. If the driving power be too fast for a long stroke, the fall of the tools can be immediately shortened to suit the speed of the machine and without stopping it. In this way the fall of the tools can be adjusted to suit a constant and unvarying speed, and, if desired, the motion of the walking-beam may be stopped entirely. p

The counterbalance at the pivot-point serves to maintain the walking-beam in the position shown in Fig. 4-namely, with its free end slightly elevated. The office of this coun- IIO terbalance is to help lift the weight of the drilling-tools on the upstroke, cushion the weight of them at the limit of the downward stroke, and also store the driving power on the downward movement, and thus form a check to the engine. As is well understood, the drilling-tools do their work solely by gravity blows, and the motive power is only employed on the upstroke to raise the tools. Vhile the tools are therefore falling, the load is entirely taken o the driving power, and unless said power is held in check the motion of the crank-Wheel 30 will be so accelerated that the pin will reach its lowest point before the tools have had time to drop and deliver their blow. Said pin will therefore begin its upward movement, and stopping the tools will not only prevent the blow, but will deliver a sudden jar to the crank-pin and the other machinery. The above-described counterbalance obviates any danger of this, in that as soon as the crank-pin begins its downward movement it will force the walking beam downwardly and will give the wire rope a torsional movement, the strength of which can be regulated by means of the tension connection at the ends. This therefore acts as a governor to prevent the racing of the machinery on the downward movement, and on the upward movement the torsional strain will assist in raising the tools. This construction therefore does away with the necessity of springs, air-cushions, or other expensive structures, and, furthermore, permits the use of a straight rigid push-rod having no spring connections or hinge-sections with a plurality of friction-head blocks slidably mounted on the derrick. Furthermore, the push-rod is so arranged that it can be readily detached,

thus forming another means for stopping the drilling operation without stopping the machine.

The next feature resides in the drill-cableoperating mechanism, which is constructed and arranged as follows: A transverse shaft 57 is journaled upon the supporting-beams 12 and forms the core of the cable-reel, a pair of spaced disks or flanges 58, secured to said shafts, forming the ends of said reel. A large gear-wheel 59 is splined or otherwise secured to turn with the shaft and has its periphery located adjacent to the main driving-shaft 16. Mounted upon the driving-shaft 16 is a friction-clutch, one element 60 of which is freely rotatable thereon and carries a pinion 6l, that is in mesh with the teeth of the large gearwheel 59. The periphery of this element 60 is broad and smooth for the purpose hereinafter set forth. The other element 62 o'f the clutch rotates with the driving-shaft 1G, being feathered thereon, but capable of a sliding movement, whereby it may be moved into and out of coacting relation with the element 60, as will be readily understood. In order to accomplish this movement, the movable member has a grooved boss 63, in the grooves of which engages the forked upper end of a bar 64,

pivoted at its lower end to the base of the mal clutch will be thrown into and out of coacting relation. In connection with this mechanism there is employed a brake, consisting of a pair of upright hinged members 67, located on opposite sides of the clutch element 60 and carrying friction-blocks 68, which are arranged to be brought against the periphery 61 of the clutch element 60. These brake members 67 are connected to the link 66 and to each other by means of the toggle-levers 68, and the .distance between them may beregulated by the adjustable screw-bolts 69, which serve to fasten said levers to the members, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The clutch and brake are so arranged with relation to each other that one will not be brought into operation immediately upon throwing the other out. In other words, the lever may assume an intermediate position where neither device is in coacting relation and the reel is freely movable.

The method of operation is very simple. Assuming that it is desired to lower the drilling-tools into the well, the lever is moved to the intermediate position, where neither the brake nor the clutch is in operative relation. The reel is therefore freely rotatable and the cable will pay out until the tools have reached the bottom. The lever is then moved to bring the brake into operative position and will thus hold the reel securely against movement and permit the operation of the drill. As the bore-hole deepens it becomes necessary vto lower the tools, and this is readily accomplished by again moving the brake to an inoperative position. able, on the other hand, to raise the tools, it is only necessary to' shift the lever so as to clutch the pinion to the shaft, thereby unbraking the same. The reel will thereupon vbe rotated and the cable wound thereon, thus raising the tools. By this construction four different operations are controlled by a single lever-namely, lowering the drilling-tools into the well, holding the reel against movement, feeding it as the bore-hole is deepened,

sists of a horizontal transversely-disposed shaft 72, journaled on standards'73, (shown in Fig. 3,) directly over the driving-shaft 16, and having flanges or disks 74, that form the Vhen it becomes desir-y This reel con-- IOO IIO

ends of said reel. One of the ends of said shaft projects beyond the frame of the machine, and the bearing at this end is in the form of a movable eccentric 75, to which is secured an operating-lever 7 6, whereby said end may be raised or lowered, as will be readily understood. To this projecting end is secured a friction-wheel 77, having an annular groove 78 in its periphery, and the projecting end of the main driving-shaft 16 is also provided with a friction Wheel 79, having a tongued periphery 80, that is arranged to fit in the groove 7S of the upper wheel 77 when said wheel is lowered against the wheel 79. Upright standards 8l are bolted to the frame on opposite sides of the friction-wheels 77 and 7 9, and a stationary brake-block S2 connects the uppenends of said standards directly over the friction-wheel 77, said block havinga concave notch 83, that corresponds to the periphery of the wheel.

The operation of the said reel will be readily apparent. Vhen it is desired to lower the pump into the bore-hole, the shaft 72 is moved, so that the wheel 77 is free of both the brake-block 82 and the friction-wheel 79. The reel is therefore free to. turn, and the sand line 70 will unwind until the pump reaches the bottom of the hole. The lever is then moved to throw the friction-Wheel 77 into engagement with the revolving frictionwheel 79, whereupon the reel Will be revolved in an opposite direction and the line wound thereon, thus raising the pump. To hold the reel against movement, it is only necessary to throw the friction-wheel 77 against the stationary brake-block 82.

By the construction set forth in the preceding description it will be seen that outside of the various advantages pointed out for the several elements the machine as a whole presents many advantageous features over the art, in that the several devices are compactly grouped about and operated by a single shaft, each being entirely independent of the other. Furthermore, any or all of' said elements or devices may be immediately thrown out of or into operation Without varying or stopping the main driving-shaft, thus making the machine especially adaptable for use with an nnvarying power, as a gasolene-engine which cannot be readily stopped, started, or its speed regulated. v

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art without further description, and it will beunderstood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a drilling-machine, the combination witha pivoted walking-beam for operating a drill, of means vfor oscillating the walkingbeam, and a counterbalance for the walkingbeam, comprising means for opposing a torsional resistance to the movement of the walking-beam, said means having its axis of os` cillation substantially coincident with that of the pivot of the beam.

2. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a pivoted walking-beam for'operating a drill, of means for oscillating the walkingbeam, and a counterbalance for the walkingbeam, comprising means for opposing a torsional resistance to the movement of -thewalling-beam, said-means engaging the walkingbeam contiguous to its pivot and having its axis of oscillation substantially coincident with that of the pivot of the beam.

3. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a pivoted walking-beam for operating a drill, of-means for oscillating the walkingbeam, and a counterbalance for the walkingbeam, comprising means for opposing a torsional resistance to the movement of the walking-beam, said means engaging the walking* beam on opposite sides of its pivot and hav ing its axis of oscillation substantially coincident with that of the pivot of the beam.

4. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a pivoted walking-beam for operating a drill, of means for oscillating the walkingbeam, and a counterbalance for the walkingbeam, comprising means for opposing a torsional resistance to the movement of the walking-beam, said means including liexible devices engaging the beam on opposite sides of its pivot, the axis of oscillation of each flexible device being coincident with that of the pivot of the beam.

5; In a drilling-machine, the combination with a pivoted walking-beam for operating a drill, of means for oscillating the walkingbeam, and a counterbalance for the walkingbeam, comprising means for opposing a torsional resistance to the movement of the walking-beam, said means including flexible devices engaging the beam on opposite sides of its pivot, the axis of oscillation of each ilexible device being coincident with that of the pivot of the beam, and means for regulating the tension of the flexible devices.

6. In a drilling-machine, the combination with spaced supports, of a pivoted walkingbeam located between the supports,and means for opposing torsional resistance to the movement of the walking-beam, said means comprising a rope or cable secured to the spaced supports and having` portions engaging the beam on opposite sides of its pivot, the terminals of said rope or cable being adj ustably secured together whereby its tension may be regulated.

7. In a drilling-machine, the combination with spaced supports, of a walking-beam pivoted between the supports, and a tlexible element extending across the space between and connected to the supports, said element ex- IOO IIO

tending transversely of and engaging the walking-beam to form a resistance against the movement of the same.

8. In a drilling-machine, the combination with spaced supports, of a walking-beam pivoted between the supports, a flexible counterbalance element extending across the space between and connected to the supports, said element being located transversely of and engaging the Walking-beam to form a resistance against the movement of the same, and means for regulatingT the tension of said counterbalance.

9. In a drilling-machine, the combination with spaced supports, of a Walking-beam pivoted between the supporting-bars, a flexible element connected to said supports, said element extending transversely of and engaging the walking-beam on opposite sides of its pivot to form a resistance against the movement of said beam in either direction, and means for regulating the tension of said countei-balance.

10. In a drilling-machine, the combination With spaced supporting-bars, of bearings located on the opposing faces of said bars, a walking-beam located between said bars and having its pivot mounted in the bearings thereof, and a flexible element also secured to the bearings and arranged transversely across and secured to the beam to form a resistance against the movement of the same.

11. In adrilling-machine, the combination with spaced supporting-bars, of bearings located on the opposing faces of said bars, a walking-beam located between the bars and having its pivot mounted in said bearings, a flexible rope also secured to the bearings and arranged transversely across the beam, said rope being secured to the Walking-beam on opposite sides of its pivot, and means for adjustably securing the ends of the rope together to regulate the tension of the same.

12. In a drilling-machine, the combination with spaced supports, of a pivoted walkingbeam located between the supports, and a flexible rope or cable Secnredlat its opposite ends to the supports, said rope or cable being located across and secured to the walkingbeam.

13. In a drilling-machine, the combination With spaced supports, of a walking-beam pivoted intermediate its ends and located between the supports, and a flexible rope or cable having portions arranged transversely across the walking-beam on opposite sides of its pivot, said portions being secured to the supports.

14. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a pivoted walking-beam, of an operating-wheel for the walking-beam provided with a plurality of spaced sockets, a plate j ournaled upon the Wheel at one side of its axis of rotation and adapted to pass over the sockets, a crank-pin carried by the plate, a pitman connecting the walking-beam and the crank-pin, and means carried by the plate and-engaging with a pivoted Walking-beam, of an operat-V ing-Wheel for the walking-beam, a plate journaled upon the Wheel at one side of its axis ot' rotation, said wheel being provided with a plurality of sockets located in concentric relation to the journal-axis of the plate, and eccentric to the journal-axis of the wheel, a crank-pin carried by the plate and movable into and out of alinement with the journalaxis of the wheel, a pitman connecting the walking-beam to the crank-pin, and a setscrew passing through the crank-pin and the plate and movable into and out of the sockets of the wheel,whereby said plate and wheel are held against relative movement.

16. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a frame including a derrick, of a rigid push-rod located longitudinally of and slidably mounted upon the derrick, a crown-pnlley carried by the push-rod, a walking-beam having a detachablevpivotal connection with the lower end of the rod, said rod being capable of a lateral movement when detached, a stationary support for the rod when detached, said support being located upon the frame, and means for oscillating the walking-beam.

17. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a driving-shaft, of a reel, means for operatively connecting said shaft and reel, said means including a clutch, the two members of which are mounted on the driving-shaft, one of said members being loosely mounted and havinga geared connection with the reel, the other being arranged to turn with the shaft and slidable into and out of engagement with the rst-named member, a brake for holding the loosely-mounted member against movement, and a lever having connections with the slidable member and the brake to successively move one into and the other out of operative position. 18. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a driving-shaft, of a reel, means for operatively connectingsaid shaft and reel, said means including a clutch, the two members of which are mounted on the driving-shaft, one of said members being loosely mounted and having a geared connection with the reel, the other being arranged to turn with the shaft and slidable into and out of engagement with the rst-named member, a brake for holding the loosely-mounted member against movement, said brake comprising a pair of standards located on opposite sides of the member, a pivoted controlling-lever, a link connection between the controllingflever and the slidable member of the clutch, and a toggle connection between the brake-standards and the link.

19. In adrilling-machine, the combination' with a driving-shaft, of a reel, means for op eratively connecting said shaft and reel, said means including a clutch comprising two elfeA IOO ments mounted upon the driving-shaft, a movable brake for holding the reel against movement when unclutched from the shaft, a pivoted operating-lever having connections with the clutch and A brake, whereby said clutch and brake may be successively moved respectively into and out of operative relation, and means for adjustingthe brake to compensate for Wear.

20. In a drilling-machine, the combination With a reel, of a brake for the reel including a peripheral rim having a connection with said reel and movable therewith, a pair of standards located on opposite sides of the rim, a controlling-lever, toggle-links pivotally connected to the standards and to each other, and another link connected to both togglelevers at their juncture and tothe controllinglever.

21. In a drilling-machine, the combination With a supporting-frame, of a driving-shaft and a driven shaft both journaled upon the frame and located in substantial parallelism, said driven shaft having a reel, means for operatively connecting the shafts, said means including a clutch comprising separate members both of which are mounted upon one of the shafts, one of said members being loosely mounted and having a geared connection with the other shaft, the other member being arranged to turn with the shaft and slidable into and out of engagement with the irst-named member, a brake for holding the looselymounted member against movement, and common controlling means connected to the brake and movable clutch member for successively moving the brake into and the slidable clutch member out of their respective engagements and vice versa.

22. In a drilling-machine, drill-operating mechanism including a Walking-beam, a pivot extending transversely across said beam, a counterbalance comprising a exible element also extending transversely across the beam, and a keeper-block secured to the beam and embracing both the pivot and the counterbalance to hold them in place upon said beam.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT M. DOWNIE.

Witnesses:

E. O. EYER, F. W. RANsoM. 

